KROQ Locals Only Band Seedless Talk Beginnings, Making Themselves Stand Out In The OC Music Scene And What Lies Ahead

September 25, 2011 10:00 AM

With an upcoming headlining spot on KROQ Locals Only Showcase on September 30th at the Yost Theater in Santa Ana, Orange County rock/reggae group [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Seedless[/lastfm] are looking to make their imprint on the legendary OC music scene.While they strive to produce the best music they can, the thing they focus on most is the fans and their interaction with the band.[pullquote quote=”We hustle and grind every day to build our Seedless Nation fan by fan” credit=”Casey Sullivan”]

I was first introduced to these guys during the OC Music Awards showcases for Best Live Band at the Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa earlier this year, and I was immediately hooked by not only their music, but their vibe and connection with the crowd. “We hustle and grind every day to build our Seedless Nation fan by fan,” says lead vocalist/guitarist Casey Sullivan. To them, their fans are more than just that, they’re looked upon as family and part of their Seedless ‘nation.’ I spoke with Casey to find out where they started, how they separate themselves from other reggae groups, what their first nationwide tour was like, the importance of their fans and where they see themselves in a year.

Seedless

Seedless is:

Casey Sullivan – Lead Guitar/ Vocals

Matthew Liufau – Vocals

Grant Rivera – Bass

Juan Rios – Keys/ Vocals

Shay Pino – Drums

Joe Bakhos – Guitar

Aside from competing for the title of Best Live Band at the OC Music Awards, Seedless was also nominated for Best World Band against bands like [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]The Dirty Heads[/lastfm] (who won the category), [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Reel Big Fish[/lastfm] and [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]The Aquabats[/lastfm]. The award that they were most honored to be a part of, however, was the People’s Choice Award.

“We constantly try to put out fresh photos and videos for people to get involved with. We like to stay connected via Facebook, Twitter and our website updates. We actually go out and talk and interact with our fans, make them feel at home and like a family when out at our show. Our live show is usually the kicker for most people coming to see us for the first time. We like to keep the energy high and strive to blow people away while performing. They usually leave with a smile on their face,” says Casey.

The band formed in Orange, CA in 2006. Casey, Shay and Grant were high school friends and started playing music together in a friend’s studio. “After getting local shows and bars around town playing covers we added Joe, Matt and Juan to fill the sound and finish off what is now Seedless. Since then we have been writing original music and growing our scene in Orange County fan by fan.”

[pullquote quote=”We stem from so many different influences that none of us let each other sell ourselves short during the production and writing process of making music.”]

In an area where the rock/reggae sound is fairly prominent, I asked what steps they took to separate themselves from the rest of the bands out there. Casey responded, ” We have always had a different sound than your average reggae band. A few of us come from a metal background; a few of us are in love with The Beatles, a few of us like progressive rock, a few like island reggae. We stem from so many different influences that none of us let each other sell ourselves short during the production and writing process of making music. We are anal as hell when it comes to our sound and making it original.”

The band just wrapped up their first nationwide tour with San Diego band Tribal Seeds, an experience that most up-and-coming bands will never get to live. “It was a hot and sticky Nationwide Summer Tour, and we loved every second of it. Such an amazing experience going out to the East Coast and seeing our fans sing our lyrics,” says Casey. When I asked who their dream tour would be, Sullivan replied with “us, [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]RX Bandits[/lastfm], [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Incubus[/lastfm] and [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Red Hot Chili Peppers[/lastfm].”

Seedless – “Twisted Love”

After the OC Music Awards, we heard from the band again during KROQ’s Your Shot To Rock contest, which pitted local bands against each other. Seedless found themselves making it into the top 5 and hearing their song on Kat Corbett’s Locals Only Show, which airs Sunday nights. After the contest was finished, their song reemerged on the list, this time with nobody to thank but themselves and their fans.

“We hit #5 on the Locals Only countdown last week, so we’re hoping to keep our fans voting and move up to #1 within the next couple weeks. We are very dedicated, and work our asses off. A year from now we will have another album out and striving to be on constant rotation on KROQ,” says Sullivan. I guess only time will tell…

Seedless will be headlining the upcoming KROQ Locals Only Showcase this Friday, September 30th at 8pm. Performing with them will be Katastro, 80 Proof, Natural Heights and The Originalites. Get tickets to the show here.

The KROQ Street Team will also be loaded with tickets throughout the week, so find us out in the streets and you could score some free tickets to the show!

Get 4 free song downloads courtesy of the band by clicking here. You’ll get their single “Twisted Love,” as well as the tracks “They Gonna Talk,” “In Time” and “911.” Watch the video for “911” below:

I love the Twisted Roots album and seeing Seedless live is always an experience! They treat their fans like family and that’s a big part of what gets everybody hooked and coming back for more. Looking forward to what they have in store for us next..

I’ve been listening to Seedless about everyday for the last 2 years. They send such a great feel good vibe to my day. They are all a great group if guys who really love and pay attention to there fans. Let’s get these guys on the KROQ rotation so they can be heard all over Southern California makin those great vibes!

What up to the boys of Seedless!!! I am a local OC head who has been following Seedless for a good while now. It has been such a blessing to see these boys making it to where they are now and knowing that there is nothing holding them back from fulfilling their dreams. As a member of the Seedless nation I can say these guys are so real and really do make you feel like family. The boys and their families took me in like one of their own. And I will always have mad love for them, because of that! Word up to my boys, I am so proud of you!! OneLove! xoxooxoxo